Foase riot: NPP Chairman arrested for firing shots during clash

The Asokwa Divisional Police Command has arrested the Foase polling station Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) Elvis Appiah for firing warning shot during the clash between residents and a Military/ police team over the relocation of district capital from Foase to Twedie.

Three persons were shot dead while others sustained injuries after police officers rained life bullets on the residents on Wednesday, February 7, 2017, in the ensuing clash.

The people had held the DCE and his staff hostage for hours at the assembly offices for allegedly trying to move the district from Foase. In their bid to free the DCE and his staff, a team of policemen fired warning shots, some of which allegedly hit more than 20 people.

The Ashanti Regional Police Commander COP Ken Yeboah after the clash revealed that some of the police officers were injured during the clash, claiming some of the residents fired guns at them.

The Assembly Man for Foase-Dwenase electoral area Christian Okyere who confirmed the arrest to Abusua FM's Osei Kwadwo said the Asokwa Police Commander arrested Elvis Appiah when he was invited to make his statement following the clash.

“The Police invited leaders of the youth including the two assembly members and the chief of Foase as well as the Foase NPP polling station chairman Elvis Appiah on Monday, February 19 to write their statement as to why the clash happened that day. Elvis Appiah couldn’t write his statement because he was not feeling well and had been admitted at the hospital for treatment. He went there Wednesday, February 21, 2018, and the police detained him that he fired warning shot during the clash so he should show them the gun,” he said.

He added that Elvis Appiah admitted that he has a gun but the police upon their search at his home couldn’t find any.

Elvis Appiah is still in police custody.